Privacy policy.

Dr. Erin McKnew, PsyD ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring compliance with applicable privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and California state law, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) where applicable. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal and health information when you visit our website (www.drerinmcknew.com) and use our services.

Privacy for Therapy Clients

This policy does NOT cover your rights to privacy as a client or patient of Dr. McKnew. These rights are covered in the Notice of Privacy Practices and Informed Consent and Business Policies, which you will receive before beginning therapy.

By using this website, you acknowledge and agree to the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the site.

Information We Collect

This website is hosted by Squarespace, which collects personal data when you visit, including:

Information about your browser, network, and device
Web pages you visited prior to coming to this website
Web pages you view while on this website
Your IP address

Squarespace needs the data to run this website and to protect and improve its platform and services. Squarespace analyzes the data in a de-personalized form.

We collect the following types of information:

Personal Information: When you fill out a form on our website, contact us via email or phone, or schedule an appointment, we may collect your name, email address, phone number, and any other information you provide.
Protected Health Information (PHI): If you provide health-related information through our forms or scheduling system, it is protected under HIPAA.
Technical Information: We may collect data about how you use our website, such as your IP address, browser type, and usage patterns through Squarespace analytics.

How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

To provide and manage psychological services, such as appointment scheduling, video visits, and payment processing through SimplePractice.
To communicate with you regarding services, appointments, or inquiries, including via email and phone.
To improve our website and services based on user interactions.
To comply with legal and regulatory requirements.

How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

Third-Party Service Providers: We use third-party providers for services such as website hosting, email encryption, appointment scheduling, and payment processing. These providers may process your data on our behalf, strictly for the purposes outlined in this policy, and are required to follow privacy and security measures.
Analytic Services: We share website analytics data with Squarespace to understand site traffic and improve user experience.
Law Enforcement, Legal Process, and Compliance: We may disclose personal information if required by law or legal processes.
Change of Ownership: If our business undergoes a merger, acquisition, or sale, we may transfer information to the new entity under comparable privacy protections.
Publicly Shared Information: Any information voluntarily shared in public areas (such as reviews) will be visible to others.

Cookies & Tracking

This website uses cookies and similar technologies. You may adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies or opt out of certain analytics tracking; however, some website features may not function properly without cookies.

How We Protect Your Information

We implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information, including:

Secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms for scheduling and communication.
Encryption of sensitive data where applicable.
Limiting access to your information to authorized personnel only.

Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary to provide services, comply with legal obligations, and resolve disputes.

Information collected through contact forms or emails is retained for 6 months if no further engagement occurs.
Appointment and health-related records are stored in SimplePractice as per their privacy policy (https://www.simplepractice.com/c/privacy/) and in accordance to HIPAA guidelines and state law.
Website analytics data collected by Squarespace is retained as per their privacy policy (https://www.squarespace.com/privacy).

After the retention period, data is securely deleted or anonymized.

Your Rights

Under California law and HIPAA, you have the right to:

Request access to your personal and health information.
Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information.
Request restrictions on how your information is used or shared.
Receive an accounting of disclosures of your PHI.
File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

To exercise these rights, you may contact us at: 925-269-4680 or therapy@drerinmcknew.com.

Our Policy Concerning Minors

Minors should not use this website. If we learn that we’ve collected personal data from a minor, we will take reasonable steps to delete it. Parents who believe we may have collected personal information from a minor can submit a request for removal by contacting us.

Notice To California Residents

If you are a California resident, you have the right to request details about what personal information we share with third parties for direct marketing purposes. To submit your request, please contact us (see “How to Contact Us” below) with the phrase “California Shine the Light” and include your mailing address, state of residence, and email address.

Website Disclaimer

The content on this website, including blog posts, is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. Engaging with the website does not establish a provider-client relationship. If you require professional psychological support, please contact us directly to schedule an appointment.

Terms of Service

By using this website, you agree to the following terms:

You will not misuse the information on this website or rely on it as a substitute for professional therapy.
Communications via email or text are not guaranteed to be fully secure. While we take measures to protect communications, email and text should not be used for sharing sensitive health information. Please use designated secure platforms such as SimplePractice or Hushmail for confidential communication.
We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy and Terms of Service at any time, with updates posted on this page.

Updates to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy periodically. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.

Contact Information

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, or your privacy rights, please contact us at: Dr. Erin McKnew, PsyD therapy@drerinmcknew.com 925-269-4680